Boulder hadn't hosted a sitting president since 1954, when Dwight D. Eisenhower attended the dedication of a federal lab. Then, come 2012, this liberal college town saw President Barack Obama not once. Not twice. But three times.

Obama's first visit to the University of Colorado was an official White House visit in April, when he addressed a crowd in the Coors Events Center. His policy speech addressed college affordability as he delivered a passionate message about preventing interest rates from doubling on Stafford loans.

Prior to his arrival at the events center, Obama stopped by The Sink on University Hill -- where a college student's frozen yogurt was spilled on the president and a photo of an excited student posing with Obama later went viral.

The president left his mark by taking a black Sharpee and adding his signature to the low-ceiling restaurant, next to "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" host Guy Fieri's sketch. Obama returned Boulder yet again in September for a campaign visit, in which he made his case for reelection on Norlin Quad before about 13,000 supporters -- but not before stopping first at The Buff Restaurant.

Then, just five days before the election, Obama stumped once again at the Coors Events Center, saying his work at the White House wasn't done, and that he represented the "middle-class agenda."

While Boulder County was certainly not battleground territory, Colorado was very much considered a critical swing state. Strategists said Obama's repeat visits to Boulder -- long a liberal stronghold -- was intended more to urge his dependable base to get out and vote. The enthusiasm surrounding his visits also was a strategic asset for his campaign, analysts explained.

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney never stepped foot in Boulder County during his campaign -- though he sent his sons to the county a couple of times.

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